Responsible tourism coupled with sustainability and conservation are terms that are used very often when we speak of travel in the present day. One place that actually walks the talk when it comes to promoting sustainable tourism is Corippo which was until recently Switzerland’s smallest village. With a population of a mere nine people as of Dec 2019, Corippo is not your usual Swiss fairy tale village replete with traditional chalets and lush meadows. The hill village has a rugged charm, a primitive vibe and an utterly tranquil ambience that is hard to miss.
Picturesque Setting
Nestled in the stunning Verzasca valley in the Ticino canton of Switzerland, Corippo is just over 20 km from the city of Locarno and is located about 20 km north of the Italian border. It is about 55 km from Morcote. The village that dates back to the 13th century is best accessed by bus from the Tenero station as parking is limited to just about 15 car slots. Alight at the “Corippo, Bivio” stop and a short 15-minute walk amidst the stunning scenery takes you to the village located about 558 meters above sea level. As you trudge uphill, the silence is only punctuated by the occasional chirping of a bird and the gurgling sound of the Verzasca river. The sight of the clear, turquoise green waters turning into a frothy white as they churn and gush over the boulders and rocks of the valley is awe inspiring to say the least. The pure mountain water flowing amidst the magnificent greenery and mountains is definitely a highlight of the hike.
As you approach closer, the characteristic stone buildings perched against the steep alpine slopes make their appearance. There are about 70 such structures in this little Italian speaking village which gives it a distinctive character. History has it that these buildings were inhabited during the mid-19th century when the population reached its peak at 315. This dropped dramatically to 70 during the 1950s as most of the population moved out. The buildings that flank the hillside are almost identical and are connected by narrow alleyways. There are no conventional roads here!
The stone houses with their roofs also crafted from slab stones stacked one above the other sport small wooden doors most of which are latched and locked firmly today. Take a walk along the villages’ historical Baroque style church and compact cemetery to soak in the antiquated feel all around. It seems as if time has come to a standstill as you imagine how life must have been decades ago in the village which was once famous for hemp production used in textile trade.
Albergo Diffuso
In a bid to preserve this quaint village and save it from the risk of disappearing due to depopulation, Corippo was designated as a historical settlement by the Swiss Confederation and the Canton of Ticino. The Corippo foundation was thus born in 1975 which was incidentally the year of European Architectural Heritage. One of the key projects of the foundation has been the introduction of the concept of a ‘scattered hotel’ or Albergo Diffuso where the entire village transforms into a hotel. Think village houses converted to rooms and the streets functioning as the lobby of the hotel. “An Albergo Diffuso is akin to a distributed hotel with the rooms located in the various houses of the village. So, the corridors are actually the streets of the village. It is not a resort as hotel guests share the village with the inhabitants” say Jeremy Gehring and Désirée Voitle, managers of the Albergo Diffuso in Corippo.
The couple who moved to Corippo in March 2022 bring in several years of experience in the hospitality industry and have been welcoming guests to Corippo since June 2022. The foundation has ensured that the intrinsic character of the village, its culture and architecture has remained intact and restoration has been done with utmost care using only original materials. In fact, there have been no new buildings in Corippo since the last century. “The response to this innovative hospitality initiative has been very positive. At the moment we have ten rooms with two more planned in the near future. We see a steady stream of visitors throughout the year with the exception from January 6th to mid-March. The project is aimed to grow slowly but surely!” add Jeremy and Desiree. It is key to note that since the autumn of 2022, all villages of the valley Verzasca have been reunited under the same commune.
So, while here visitors can enjoy the nature in its pristine best and savour life at a pleasantly unhurried place. Whether you want to hike the panoramic routes along the Verzasca Valley or just by the river or up to a local mountain peak, there are plenty of options for nature lovers. The place is ideal for advocates of slow travel wherein you can just relax amidst the rustic yet harmonious outdoors while savouring Jeremy’s delectable meals. The cuisine served is Southern alpine which is prepared entirely using regional produce like mountain herbs, local cheese, pasta etc.
Apart from Albergo Diffuso, the Corippo foundation oversees a number of activities like upkeep, maintenance and restoration of other buildings in the village, creation of education and culture trails, promotion and even fund-raising activities.
Corippo can be done as a day trip from Zurich.
